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Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon has passed at least 70 drug tests as a member of the Stage III drug program, and the positive test that is being reviewed for a one-year suspension was not far off from being ruled as a negative. Of the two urine samples taken from Gordon for that test, his "A" sample registered barely above the league's limit. The "B" sample came in at a level below the threshold.

A positive "A" leads to a test for the substance's presence in "B." But the "B" sample doesn't have to show a level befitting a violation; it only has to confirm a hint of the same substance as "A." If Gordon's "B" sample had been labeled as the "A" and vice versa, the sample that barely registered as a positive wouldn't have been examined.

There's an increasing feeling that if this is valid, Gordon could be shown leniency, especially in light of the NFL's recent PR nightmare with the Ray Rice suspension ruling. He's not out of the woods yet, but there's reason to think he'll play some regulation football this year.